Chapter 7. This World is Fictional

Author's Note: Merry Christmas! (＾▽＾) I didn't know what to do to celebrate, so just take this chapter. Have a good holidays, everyone!

*****

Lucilline was tapping the surface of his desk with a slender finger. He gazed out in the distance. Boredom was visible in his golden eyes, which shone like the pupils of a sly cat.

Suddenly, he perked up.

Out in the distance, he could witness the sight of silver hair. That was Willow, his maidservant's iridescent hair colour. Lucilline was glad to see his maidservant back, but then, his happiness was halted to a stop. Willow was knocked unconscious, and hung at a young man's shoulder.

The young man had a fit figure, and stood straight as if nothing could harm him.

Then, he looked up. His eyes met Lucilline's, who was watching from the window and felt like his body had been washed over by a cold shower. Lucilline stood up from his desk, and his eyes thinned warily at the stranger.

The stranger seemed to recognize him. He carried Willow like she was his pillowcase, then extended out a hand. The stranger pointed at Lucilline and gestured for him to come over.

Seeing this, Lucilline expressionlessly closed his window and drew the curtain.

The stranger's strong gaze had finally left his body. Lucilline heaved a breath, slumping his back against the wall. "What should I do...?"

*****

The young man held Willow by his shoulder.

He domineeringly stared down at the manor's double doors, waiting for Lucilline to make his entrance. The young man was vigilant. He knew that he was confronting the great villain from the novel. He also knew that this great villain will harm the world from his evil schemes. Meaning, this great villain had to die.

The young man didn't know what cards Lucilline had underneath his sleeves.

Perhaps, Lucilline had a method that will kill him. Perhaps, today was his last day alive. However, the young man didn't want to reincarnate in a world that was eventually going to lose an entire kingdom. Even worse, it was the kingdom he was apart of.

The young man held onto Willow's frail and unconscious body even tighter. He was nervous and yet anticipating. Perhaps, today, he'll save Lydia Kingdom.

Suddenly, the manor's doors opened.

The young man awaited.

From within the shadows, a slender figure stepped out. Lucilline's skin was as fair as the moonlight's rays, and was as unblemished as a still pond. His raven black hair had been tied into a braid, resting on a shoulder like a bird perched on its branch.

"I don't remember inviting a guest." Lucilline smiled.

He extended out a gloved hand, with a bracelet strung of a copper bell. The copper bell rung twice in the nighttime's breeze before coming to a stop. "For what reason did you trespass?"

The young man found himself holding his breath longer than expected. By the time he came back to himself, his thick skin had begun to redden into a fair blush.

"I..." His voice was deep and thick.

Lucilline was the great villain, and was written to be more beautiful than a fair maiden. His prestige as the third son of Grand Duke Rubius made him unable to be messed with. All in all, he was the embodiment of what all noblemen wanted to become.

The young man knew he had to remain guarded.

"Why are you scared?" Lucilline sneered. "You're the one that trespassed my territory. Out of everything, I'm the one that should be scared."

He withdrew his outstretched hand.

The young man, "..." That was right! He was the one on the offensive here! Besides, he often carried out merciless actions and didn't let his victims stay fearless. For what reason is he so on-guarded this time? Perhaps, it was the great villain's seductive charms that got to him! In the novel, the author did describe Lucilline as a creature that the Goddess of Beauty favoured.

He shook himself out of it. The young man relaxed, then deadpanned. "Lucilline Rubius, your maidservant's life is in my hands."

Lucilline's golden eyes fell onto Willow, who was slumped over the young man's shoulder.

"Without your powerful maidservant, you're only just a weak nobleman." The young man spat. "You should behave yourself and not struggle."

"Oh." Lucilline expressionlessly spoke. "What will you be doing with me?"

The young man was impressed with the great villain's mental state. It seemed like even if Lucilline was kicked into the mud, his expression wouldn't change.

"You may not understand," the young man sighed. "But everything I say is the truth."

Lucilline was curious. He didn't understand what the trespasser was aiming for, when sneaking into the mountain. But then, his entire body stiffened when he heard what was said afterwards, "I know that in the future, you, Lucilline Rubius, will endanger the entirety of Lydia Kingdom."

The young man was completely serious when he drew a folding knife from his pockets. "Therefore, I will end your life right here and now."

The folding knife held a sharp glare, as it was pointed directly at Lucilline.

Lucilline found himself backing away from the blade.

He felt unease, as the young man stepped closer.

The young man's tall and muscular figure loomed overhead, with his shadow falling over Lucilline's small slender body. His every step had crunched the straight green grass, relentlessly going forwards. He had a domineering aura, which sharpened his killing intent like blades slicing across blades.

The young man decided to have an intimidating approach. He played with the folding knife in his one hand, flipping it around to perform several cuts in the air.

Lucilline's eyes thinned at this action.

All of a sudden, an incoming knife had charged forwards. Lucilline dodged it, with the blade merely a few inches from slashing at his own hair.

The trespassing young man had used his spare hand, throwing a punch at Lucilline's left temple.

Lucilline saw this, and ducked. He swept his leg at the young man's leg, who dodged by jumping upwards. The great villain noticed, then directly pulled at the young man's feet.

The young man was surprised when a hand dragged at his ankle.

Lucilline didn't spare a single thought before increasing his grip. Instantaneously, the young man found his ankle being held like a mice strangled within an elephant's trunk. "Tsk." He clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth. It was rare to see such superb strength at the wrist.

Grabbing tight, Lucilline held the ankle then threw the young man far away.

To the young man's surprise, his entire body of abominable muscles had been thrown at a distance of ten metres! He landed swiftly on the cobblestone path, then charged back at the great villain.

Lucilline dodged another assault of the knife.

He blocked any punches and kicks from the young man, while his face remained expressionless and... covered in boredom.

"Is it tiring?" Lucilline asked. "Attacking me while my maidservant is in your arms."

The young man gritted his teeth at that remark. There was no way he'd release the maidservant! If he did, then Lucilline would retrieve the hostage, and he'd lose his intimidation!

"Fine." The young man decided to go with a different approach. "If you don't want your maidservant to die, then give me your life." He pointed the knife at the unconscious body of Willow.

Lucilline's eyes widened. He contemplated to himself.

His eyes fell onto the limp and unconscious body of Willow. Mustering up a sigh, he threw his hands up in defeat. Slowly, he moved forwards to the young man. "What reason do you have that proves I will be endangering Lydia Kingdom? For your information, I am a well-behaved civilian."

The young man didn't trust him. "Don't move."

Lucilline didn't obey. He continued moving forwards. Even though he was the one without a weapon, Lucilline acted like there was nothing he should be afraid of.

"Unfortunately," Lucilline deadpanned. "I know that you won't be able to kill my maidservant so easily."

The young man was surprised.

All of a sudden, Lucilline gestured. To his movements, the unconscious body of Willow had sprung up! Willow's body was like as if it was possessed, flailing around mercilessly. In the spark of the moment, the maidservant grabbed the folding knife out from the young man's grip, locking him so that he wouldn't move, then throwing the knife into the arms of her Young Master.

Lucilline caught the folding knife, then walked towards the young man.

The young man struggled to get out of Willow's grip, but the maidservant didn't let go.

"Wasn't she unconscious?" He gaped.

Lucilline shrugged. "Next time, check your opponent before taking them as hostage."

As foretold, Willow was never unconscious. She had only faked blacking out from her earlier assault, then allowed the enemy to play right into her hands.

Finally, the great villain arrived before the young man, then held the blade of the folding knife before his neck.

"Now, you must answer all my questions." Lucilline was mischievous. "It's best to not lie. I can tell if you begin to twist your words. If you do tell me a false answer... I hope you won't mind bearing some scars."

The blade fell onto the young man's neck, slowly drawing beads of blood.

The young man stiffened.

Lucilline was serious. He asked, "What is your name?"

"Augustine."

"Full name." Lucilline pressed the knife closer.

The young man winced, "Augustine... Yoosung..."

"Never heard of that surname. Is it a commoner name or perhaps... a noble?" Lucilline asked. Augustine didn't answer him. After all, he was a reincarnator. His last name was never written in the novel. There was no way Lucilline had ever heard of that name.

Lucilline sighed. "Augustine, why must you say that I'll endanger the entirety of Lydia Kingdom? Didn't I already tell you that I am a well-behaved civilian?"

Augustine's silver eyes were focused on the knife that was laid upon his neck.

"Remember," Lucilline reminded him, "If you tell a single lie, I'll know."

Augustine knew that. After all, before him was the great villain. If the great villain didn't have such skills, then he wasn't worth of his character role!

"...I know the future." Augustine snarled. As a reincarnator, he shouldn't fear of the unknown. He leaned forwards, with the blade seeping deeper into his neck. A bead of blood had slid down from the cut, landing down onto his collarbones. "I know everything that will happen in the future. And I also know that in the future, you will be the enemy of mankind."

His every action was fearless. "I am from another world. I died and reincarnated into your world." A smirk fell onto Augustine's lips. "Lucilline Rubius, you may find this shocking, but this world is from a novel. You are a creation, not a life."

Augustine continued to pressure. More lines of blood had slid down his neck, "Well, aren't you afraid that you now know the truth?"

Lucilline had lowered his head. His expression couldn't be seen, and was blocked by his strands of raven black hair and long bangs.

Augustine smirked. He knew that the great villain was afraid. He was in turmoil...

All of a sudden, Lucilline lifted his head. A playful and pure smile was written over his lips, "The thing I said about knowing whether you lie or not... well, that was a lie. But I really didn't expect you to take it so seriously, only to say such pretentious words right afterwards."

Augustine, "..." He overestimated the skills of the great villain.

Lucilline let out a hollow laugh. "Honestly, what were you thinking when you said that?" His eyes flashed a golden colour, "It seems like I met a delusional fellow this time. Well, I guess there's no more point in talking. I should just kill you-"

Augustine gritted his teeth. "You should pay attention to who you're handling right now." This sentence of his had captured Lucilline's attention. Augustine continued onwards, "I know what events will occur in the future. I know everyone's fate. You know that it will be a waste if you get rid of me."

Lucilline tilted his head. A strand of his long wavy hair fell across his face. "How come? How am I supposed to know that what you're saying is real?"

A pair of golden eyes met silver.

It was then, Augustine decided to use his trump card. "I know that Duchess Rubius is deceased."

Immediately, Lucilline wobbled on the spot. His unblemished skin had paled, which made him practically identical to the petals of white lilies. The blade which pressed against Augustine's neck had withdrawn a bit. "How..."

In society, everyone thought that the Rubius household was a normal noble family, which served the royalty. However, there were many things that society wasn't aware of.

For example, nobody but the Rubius household knew that Duke Rubius was sick.

Additionally, nobody but the Rubius household knew that Duchess Rubius was dead.

In the past, those who knew about Duchess Rubius' death had been rid of. So how come... this strange trespasser who goes by the surname Yoosung... how did he know this?

Lucilline lifted his head. His pupils shook as he stared deeply into Augustine's eyes, "How did you know?"

Augustine continued to explain. "In my world, I stumbled upon a fictional novel which had you as one of its characters. Since I died and reincarnated in this world, I understood that this world is fictional. Everything you've encountered is fictional. The buildings you've lived in are fictional, the people you've interacted with are fictional. Even the sun is fictional."

"Which means," He deadpanned, "You, Lucilline Rubius, is fictional as well."